Flexible shingle



June 7 1927. 1,631,936

G. RITTER FLEXIBLE SHINGLE Filed sept. s, 1925 lllliln www .if n

Il l 15 1I il Wl TNESSIS INI 'ENTOR- .Al TTORNE YS.

Patented June `UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE RITTER, 0F WOODBRIDGE. NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 THE BARBER AB- PHALT COIAPANY, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F WEST VIRGINIA. Y

FLEXIBLE SHINGLE. i

Application led September 8, 1985. Serial No. 54,198. n

This invention relates generally to weatherproof surface coverings, while it has more particular reference to shingles Vfabricated from sheet .material of a iibrous nature and treated with bituminous substance to impart weather resistant qualities, such shingles being usually finished on one or both faces with a mineralized surfacing imbedded or rolled therein.

An object ot this invention is to provide shingles, of the type referred to which, when laid in overlapping relation, snnulate; the conventional rectangular units, but by reason of their novel shape effect a considerable saving in material per square covered therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide a surface covering for roofs and the like that a'ords ample weather protection while considerably reducing the weight of material laid. j

A further object is to provide lexible shingles of the type referred to characterized by means for s acing and aligning the same during the laying process, so that it is not necessaryfor the roofer to reviously chalk line a surfaceto be covere with the novel shingles.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent from the following description, this invention essentially consists in the form 'of shin le hereinafter described, typically exempli ed on the accompanying sheet of drawings, and circumscribed as to subject-matter and scope by the appended claims.

In the drawings Fi I is a plan view of a shingle embodying t e present improvements, and showing by dot-and-dash lines how itis economically severed from web material; and,

Fig. II is a fragmentary plan view of a surface, in part, covered with my novel type of shingles. f

In accordance with this invention I preferably make use of sheet material rendered flexible, non-porous and weather-proof in accordance with known practice in the art to which said invention appertains. This material is, Vin general, made of standard widths and I preferably use that having a transverse dimension equal to the depth of shin les it is desired to produce. As shown in Fig. I, such a strip of sheet material is designated 3, by dot-anddash outline, and 1t is transverse y severed by zi -za crosscuts to provide the individual sin e units 4. It wil-1 be remarked the consecutive units are cut from the stri of sheet material 3 in reverse relation, while each individual shingle embodies upper and lower rectangular portions 5, 6 respectively with an integral intervening polygonal or mutually merging trapeziform section 7. More specifically set forth, the upper portion 5 is square, the lower portion 6 oblon while the integral i intermediate section joins up to said square portion 5 with provision of indents or notches 8 and it is formed adjoining the oblong ortion 6 with laterally projecting lugs 9, 9 or a purpose later on explained. Attention is also, particularly, directed to the fact that the side edges 10 of the portion 5, the similar edges l1 of the the edges of the lugs 9, are al in parallel or directly vertical to the upper and lower edges 12, l-respective'ly-fof the shingle 4. It 1s, likewise, to be noted that the depth of the upper and, lower portions 5, 6 are equal, while 'the `width of the former is slightly in excess of half the greater dimension of the latter,'and that the shingles 4 are cut from roll rooin material with minimum waste, and a mar ed saving of time and labor.

Shingles l4 of the typified character are laid as follows 1portion 6 and A starting strip 14 is first attached to lower row of shingles 4 are secured by nails 16 located adjacentthe lugs 9 aforesaid; or otherwise-in the accustomed manneras far as may be necessary to properly retain the same in position and alignment with the longitudinal edge of the startin strip 14. Successive overlapping rows of t e shingles 4 are similarly lai and nailed, in staggered relation, one to the other in accordance'with general practice. It will thus be seen that the individual shingles 4 are secured to the boarding 15 at four points, the lug projections`9 ensurin the proper horizontal spacings 17 as wel as an eicient weather seal at 18, whereas the angular points a, b, c, register with one another in the vertical spacing and thereby regularly square the ,work, all of which will be easil ap reciated more the relative amount of exposure of each individual shingle will be clearl seen and understood by those acquainted wlth the art, while the saving in material used-and less weight applied-is equally obvious.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that my novel form ot shingle fully justiiies all the objects and advantages set out in the hereinbefore recited statement of invention. Furthermore, While it is deemed preferable to employ the embodiment illustrated and described, it Will be understoodl the same may be varied or modified as found desirable and best suited to individual requirements. Having thus described my invention, 1 claim 1. As a new article of manufacture a flexible shingle congured to atl'ord upper and lower rectangular portions in parallel and of contrasting area, with a mutually merging intermediate trapeziform section having lateral lugs and opposed notches providing` relativelystepped rectangular "points for the purposes set forth.

2. As a new article of manufacture a Hexable shingle configured to afford upper and lower rectangular portions in parallel and of minor and major area respectively with a mutually merging intermediate trapeziiorm section, said intermediate section having opposed lateral lugs and notches, the former functional to provide the'usual spacings and the latter affording relatively-steppcd vertical-aligning angle points. V

3. A weather-prool surface covering composed of a series of overlaliping ro'ws of iexible material shingle units each embodying an upper and a lower rectangular port1on-ol contrasting area-with a mutualh7 merging intermediate trapezit'orm section. said intermediate section including opposed flanking lugs 4and opposed notches whereby horizont-.1l spacing and vertical aligiiing are positively ensured.

In testimony whereof, l have hereunto signed my name at Maurer, N. J., this 14th day of August 1925.

GEORGE RITTER. 

